Grant on the brink, O'Neill waits in wings

West Ham boss Avram Grant will face the sack should he fail to lead his side to victory over Arsenal on Saturday, with the Hammers lining up former Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill as the Israeli's replacement.
ESPNsoccernet understands that no final decision on Grant's future has been taken ahead of today's game with Arsenal, though a defeat would likely see the end of his reign at the Boleyn Ground.
Despite leading his side to a Carling Cup semi-final first leg win on Wednesday, Grant's Upton Park tenure is hanging by a thread as the club's hierarchy wait for the slip up that would represent the end of the line.
The speculation that Grant will leave sooner rather than later has been mounting and should a weakened Hammers side be put to the sword by Arsenal at Upton Park, Grant will likely be forced out immediately.
Should West Ham defeat the Gunners, though, Grant would likely be given another stay of execution, though the Hammers will continue to work on persuading O'Neill to return to football management.
Odds on the former Celtic and Leicester boss taking the reins at Upton Park have shortened dramatically over the last 48 hours, and it is believed that he is ready to answer West Ham's SOS call.
But reports that Grant's sacking is a formality and that he will be axed no matter what the result of Saturday's game are wide of the mark.
An ESPNsoccernet source at the club said: "No, it is wrong to assume Grant's last game is against Arsenal, and he will go irrespective of the result.
"Of course if the team suffer another hammering like they did at Newcastle, then perhaps he will go, and the board will think, 'enough is enough'.
"But not irrespective of the result. If Grant can keep going and save the club from relegation, then fair enough, but if not then something will have to be done."
However, ESPNsoccernet sources have confirmed that O'Neill is far and away the leading candidate to replace Grant. It was significant, that after Wednesday's board meeting, the club declined to make any comment about Grant's position - not even the usual dreaded 'vote of confidence'.
While the cup has been a distraction, the Hammers board feared that the club were being cut adrift again at the foot of the Premier League. But Grant survives to take charge of the team against Arsenal.
The board, led by owners David Sullivan and David Gold, have a short list of candidates that included Sam Allardyce, Martin Jol and Chris Houghton, but O'Neill is the overwhelming favourite.
O'Neill had been sounded out about the possibility of becoming West Ham manager before, but had wanted a minimum of a £10 million transfer budget, at a time when the new owners had taken over a club with £110 million of debt.
That debt has been worked out relentlessly and is currently down to £80 million, with co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan willing to invest heavily in new players in the January transfer window.

Sir Alex Ferguson's praise indicates another year on cards for Ryan Giggs at Manchester United

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that Manchester United have not entered contract talks with Ryan Giggs, with the veteran's deal due to run out at the end of this season.

Though, given the Scot's assessment of the winger whose career he has overseen for the last 20 years, it seems more than probable that another 12 month contract extension will be granted to Giggs.

With the winger playing a limited yet influential role this season, his contribution was described in glowing terms by the Red Devils boss.

"Ryan is an incredible human being," said Ferguson.

"He defies the logic of forwards when he plays at the level he did last Sunday.

"Obviously we know how to manage him. He doesn't play every week but he makes a contribution that lifts the team. He did that in the second half last week. He was outstanding.

"His fitness was fantastic. He kept going for the whole 90 minutes. He has been doing that for two decades.

"No other player has ever done that - or is ever likely to. He is quite an amazing man."

Such glowing comments will be pleasing news for the Welshman, who is keen to keep playing at club level until no longer possible.

"I am feeling good and as long as I am feeling good and still enjoying it, I will carry on playing," he told the Manchester Evening News.

"As long as the club wants me as well, I will."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has not always seen eye-to-eye with Ferguson but the Gunners' boss was keen to add to his rival's praise of Giggs.

The Welshman will make his 600th league appearance if he features against Tottenahm on Sunday and Wenger sees the winger as a brilliant example to any footballer.

"I would like to say congratulations to Ryan Giggs," Wenger told Arsenal's official website.

"I have a huge respect for what he has done and the way he has played football. I am very happy for what he has done.

"He is a leading example of a player who is completely dedicated to their sport, who love it passionately, love to win and are rewarded through their club,"

Real confirm search for striker

Real Madrid director general Jorge Valdano has confirmed they are in the market for a striker after this week losing Gonzalo Higuain for a lengthy period.
Higuain underwent an operation on his back injury in Chicago on Tuesday and the doctor who performed the surgery confirmed afterwards the Argentina international would be absent for between three and four months.
That would mean Higuain is unlikely to be available again until the final weeks of the season and would leave Madrid coach Jose Mourinho with just Karim Benzema as his only senior centre-forward.
On January 5, coach Jose Mourinho indicated a replacement for Higuain was unlikely but the club appears to have changed its tune given the length of his absence as Valdano admitted on Thursday night they are looking at options.
"We are exploring the market now the uncertainty around Higuain has been resolved. We'll see if we can find a player who can help us for six months,'' said Valdano following Madrid's 3-1 Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg win over local rivals Atletico.
Numerous strikers have been linked with the Spanish giants, including Miroslav Klose, Emmanuel Adebayor and Nelson Haedo Valdez, but Valdano preferred not to comment on possible targets.

"Many names are being mentioned and it's best not to go into details. But it's true we are looking for a number nine,'' he said in AS.